Arrested Labour donor declares his innocence

Share via

A wealthy Labour donor arrested over loans-for-peerages allegations today spoke of his shock and dismay and made a strong defence of his innocence.

Sir Christopher Evans, the founder of Merlin Biosciences, said that if he had thought he would be placed in “this embarrassing and mind-boggling position” he would never had made the loan.

He was questioned yesterday at a police station outside London by officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Directorate. He lent the Labour Party £1 million between January and May last year.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said he was later released on bail, pending further inquiries